my clam?

[Zuska]

I have a 6-7ich aquamosa clam and its open up but the mantle and all is all the way on the buttom but still loses from the time to time. the mouth is wide open and it keeps shiting out ****. brown stringi stuff. whats going on?

 

[Deanos]

:headache:

Introduction to Clams

Your answer is there.

 

[EmilyT]

:banghead::banghead::banghead:

 

[crox99]

Mike

you added another clam to your tank?:banghead::banghead:

 

[Alexxn]

http://www.manhattanreefs.com/forum/reefs-beginners/30548-clams.html

I guess you are back to not listening to anyones advice......sad for the animals :frown:

 

[Zoous]

Why is it required that you need your tank to mature for 1 year (Crox) or a couple of years (Jhale) if you want to buy clams? What needs to be establish if you want to buy clams?

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

Because clams are a delicate animal and need good lighting and water quality. Once your tank is established you have matured as a reefer and have taken the time to research and learn how to properly take care of the animal. Or you can buy 1 or 2 and put them in a tank and have them die and then go out and buy more and have them die and then you can buy more........ The cycle goes on until you get it right. Is that fair to the animals that you are killing?

 

[Deanos]

Why is it required that you need your tank to mature for 1 year (Crox) or a couple of years (Jhale) if you want to buy clams?

The link I provided in this thread provided links to information answering your question. Reading the answer there is the same as reading it here, except those guys explain it better

 

[Zoous]

Because clams are a delicate animal and need good lighting and water quality. Once your tank is established you have matured as a reefer and have taken the time to research and learn how to properly take care of the animal. Or you can buy 1 or 2 and put them in a tank and have them die and then go out and buy more and have them die and then you can buy more........ The cycle goes on until you get it right. Is that fair to the animals that you are killing?

Chiefmcfuz
You still didn't answer my question. Waiting one year or a couple of years before you buy a clam? This is what I read from the old link in this thread if you were to click on it and read it. I'm sure there are reefers who have purchased clams less than a year and are doing well.

 

[Deanos]

Did the links answer your questions? :scratch:

 

[Zoous]

Thanks Deanos its an excellent link but I didn't see anything about the length of time to establish your tank before you buy a clam.

 

[Deanos]

No, at the bottom of that linked page are several more concerning the care of Tridacnids.

 

[ellebelle]

I don't know ... from reading the giant clam book, I don't necessarily think you need to wait 1 - 2 years before you get a clam. I mean, clams actually work as biofilters and use nitrates in a system.

I would say that as long as:

1) your tank is cycled;
2) you have adequate lighting;
3) you are on top of your trace element replacement (dosing, water changes);
4) you have stable temperature/salinity/pH;
5) you have read the clam book

you could keep clams in your aquarium.

I'm sure I'll get flamed for posting this, and I am certainly not advocating that Zuska go out and pack his tank with clams (especially considering his lack of research on the topic). But I think that anyone who practices responsible husbandry with their corals and fish can probably get a clam once their tank is seeded and running with some stability.

 

[ScottK]

Thanks Deanos its an excellent link but I didn't see anything about the length of time to establish your tank before you buy a clam.

The 6-month, one year, two years 'maturing process' has as much to do with the person keeping the reef as it does with the reef tank itself. A person with less than a year's experience in the hobby should probably not attempt to keep animals that require excellent husbandry. Most people in that situation simply don't have the experience needed to succeed.

To answer your question, a lot goes on in terms of establishing a tank long after the intial cycle is complete. Live rock continues to 'cure' (ie things still decomposing, useful bacteria colonies growing), etc. Young tanks, even after they have cycled, are more unstable than older tanks. If you add an animal that needs stable tank parameters, you need to wait a while.

 

[Zoous]

No, at the bottom of that linked page are several more concerning the care of Tridacnids.

Which link at the bottom are you referring to about length of time before buying a clam?

 

[Zoous]

I couldn't say it any better.

I don't know ... from reading the giant clam book, I don't necessarily think you need to wait 1 - 2 years before you get a clam. I mean, clams actually work as biofilters and use nitrates in a system.

I would say that as long as:

1) your tank is cycled;
2) you have adequate lighting;
3) you are on top of your trace element replacement (dosing, water changes);
4) you have stable temperature/salinity/pH;
5) you have read the clam book

you could keep clams in your aquarium.

I'm sure I'll get flamed for posting this, and I am certainly not advocating that Zuska go out and pack his tank with clams (especially considering his lack of research on the topic). But I think that anyone who practices responsible husbandry with their corals and fish can probably get a clam once their tank is seeded and running with some stability.

 

[Zoous]

If it's just a matter of being a more experience reefkeeper I can understand but as for the amount of time for the tank to be established before you buy a clam I believe this is not accurate statement to make.

The 6-month, one year, two years 'maturing process' has as much to do with the person keeping the reef as it does with the reef tank itself. A person with less than a year's experience in the hobby should probably not attempt to keep animals that require excellent husbandry. Most people in that situation simply don't have the experience needed to succeed.

To answer your question, a lot goes on in terms of establishing a tank long after the intial cycle is complete. Live rock continues to 'cure' (ie things still decomposing, useful bacteria colonies growing), etc. Young tanks, even after they have cycled, are more unstable than older tanks. If you add an animal that needs stable tank parameters, you need to wait a while.

 

[rbtwo4]

I agree with ellebelle. My tank is only 5 months old & made a mistake in buying a crocea clam without knowingly I had to have my tank "mature" for a year. I religiously change 35% of the water in my tank and add all the necessary stuff for example phyto trace elements and blah blah blah well my clam is looking beautiful after a full month and has not given me any problems. I have it mounted on a pvc fitting that way in case I need to move it I don't hurt it. So I guess it all really depends on ur parameters and YOU on being a good reefkeeper & don't necessarily believe there's a "time period" before u can get one. Just my opinion.

 

[Zuska]

i have all those 300w mh light and read the book my ph and all is 8.0 i dunno and its like dieing now i dunno doing a water change today...

 

[Bob 1000]

Don't do a water change unless your nitrates and phosphates are high or going up...This will only stress the clam out more...